Buon Rosaly, is a small scale fishermen at Cambodias Coast. Here fishing is the main income source. A threatened one, due to illegal fishing amongst others. Fisheries worldwide are being pushed to the brink. Almost 30% of fisheries are now considered overexploited.
Gilnets used often have such small mesh size, that no fish can escape. A devastating loss of biodiversity.
Fishes too small to be sold in the market, are sold to swimming fish farms, where they are fed to breed larger fish.
Meanwhile, trawlers around Rosalys community are on their way out. Due to weak enforcement, fishing fleets have no incentives to fish in line with legal requirements. Trawl nets snatch everything on the seafloor and leave nothing behind.
As soon as the boats are arriving at the local landing site, the market frenzy takes its course.
Queenfish, Kingfish, Trashfish, hatching crabs displayed by the yellow eggs – everything goes.Trashfish is the most tragic sight: A crucial part of a healthy ecosystem withdrawn from the ocean, for no good reason.
Enforcing fisheries laws and preventing the exploitation of the oceans is key to sustainable economic growth.
Small NGOs are ferociously implementing measures to defend Cambodias oceans and with it its fishermen.
